Natania waited for Leah in the basketball court when the final buzzer rang. She chatted with Damien and Grace while she waited. Grace was still grieving her mother's loss and leaned heavily against Natania's pelt.

While she didn't like to use it, Natania brushed the spotted wolf with charisma, trying to lessen the sting of grief. It had been more than a month since the attack and she hated to see the wolf suffering when she could alleviate some of it. Grace heaved a sigh and a bit of the dark cloud surrounding her went away.

"I have to go," Natania said as she scented Leah's approach. "Are you going to be okay?"

Grace nodded. Damien spoke up, "I'll make sure she gets home."

Natania dipped her head. "Thank you." She nuzzled both of them, then raced after Leah.

Leah didn't speak as Natania joined her. They walked for a good half hour before the blue wolf finally turned to her and paused. "So?"

Natania sat. "Sorry, I was trying to work up the courage to ask."

"Ask what?" Leah frowned, tilting her head.

Natania glanced at the floor, irritated by the anxiety she was feeling. It wasn't exactly a difficult question. "Will you be my second?" she blurted out.

"Why would you want me to be your second? You don't even know me." Leah's piercing silver eyes glared at her.

"Because you deserve it," Natania stalked around her, words flowing unbidden from her mouth. The blue wolf followed her movements, but sat silently. "You're faster than I am, you can defend yourself against members of the pack twice your size. You don't hesitate to defend those weaker, even if they've treated you poorly. Your loyalty is unmatched. And you're not afraid to call me out if I do something stupid."

"Which is often," Leah said with a sniff, not moving from her spot on the ground.

Natania barked a laugh. "You're fierce, determined, perceptive, independent and beautiful." Natania blinked, she hadn't meant to say that. Her pelt grew hot and she turned her gaze back to the ground. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that, not that it isn't true, just not relevant to why I want you as my second." Natania flinched. The wolf would definitely think she was an idiot now.

Leah narrowed her eyes. "Do you really think offering me a new rank is going to make me suddenly, what? Want to date you?"

"No!" Natania growled. "It's not like that. I," She dug her claws in the ground and took another deep breath. "I think you're amazing and the pack needs you," she said softly.

"I'll think about it." Leah replied, her voice was hard but there was a bit of laughter in her gaze. Natania's fur prickled uncomfortably. Leah headbutted her in the shoulder and Natania snapped her teeth half heartedly in response.

It wasn't going terribly. The wolf hadn't stomped off. Natania ran her nose down Leah's flank, trying to steal some of her courage. Natania stopped the caress as soon as she realized she'd been doing it. She swallowed hard. "Would you want to do something?" Natania couldn't meet her gaze, still staring at the ground, her ears flicking with discomfort. "With me?"

When Leah didn't speak for a few minutes, Natania braved a look at her. She was appalled to see Leah didn't look even remotely surprised. Had she really been that obvious? The blue wolf had her head cocked and was looking at her appraisingly. Natania shook out her pelt and ducked her head. "I'm sorry-" she started, but Leah cut her off.

"Maybe, if you can beat me in a race." The wolf hadn't even finished speaking before she'd dashed off and Natania stared after her, dumbfounded. That had not been the result she was expecting. After another moment of stunned silence, Natania raced after her. She had no chance, the wolf was faster than her, even without a head start, but she tried anyway.

Leah was perched on the lowest branch of a tree when Natania finally caught up. The blue wolf didn't say anything, just leapt down from the tree and started heading back home, a smug aura of amusement coating the bond between them.

Leah didn't bring up the conversation again, but on random days she would be waiting on the tree line for Natania to emerge from the school. As soon as the wolf saw she was noticed, she would sprint off, and Natania would attempt to follow.

She didn't keep any consistency to the days she would wait, so Natania couldn't prepare for it at all. On the fifth time, she was talking with Valerie when Leah caught her eye. Natania glanced between them and set her jaw. "Can we finish this later?" Natania cut off what Valerie had been saying, backing up in the direction Leah had gone. "Sorry, thanks!" Without waiting for a response, she turned, and ran a few steps before shifting.

Natania's flanks were heaving when she finally found where Leah was waiting, on a fallen log this time. "I was in the middle of a conversation," Natania complained between pants.

Leah didn't say anything but Natania saw her lip quirk up a little. "I hope you know I am terribly confused by this," she added, more because she knew it would make the other wolf laugh than that she was terribly bothered.

The blue wolf snorted then left as she usually did, without saying a word. Natania shook her head, utterly confused by her antics, then walked back to where she had abandoned Valerie.

"What was that about?" the girl asked when Natania returned.

"Oh, uh." Natania chewed her lip. "We made a bet." It was the first thought that came to mind.

"A bet that what?" Valerie pressed.

"She bet that I couldn't beat her in a race, but I didn't realize she would keep cheating." Her voice was only a little bitter. She had to admit, she was having fun with the challenge.

"What do you get if you win?" The girl raised an eyebrow.

"Just uh bragging rights," Natania said, not meeting her eye.

It was obvious she didn't believe her as Valerie snorted with amusement. "Right. Bragging rights." Natania smiled.

By the seventh race, Natania was a little frustrated. "You could just say no," she said, though she knew Leah wouldn't talk to her about it. "I won't be offended." That was a lie, she would be a little offended, but she'd rather Leah say no, than keep silently judging her.

"I didn't say no," Leah murmured, so quietly Natania thought she was hearing her wrong.

Natania twitched her ears, frowning at the blue wolf. "What is the goal here?"

Leah didn't answer her question, her tail sweeping the forest floor. "No one said you had to participate. If you're so bothered, don't race."

"I'm not bothered, but I don't exactly have unlimited time here. The final decision is in less than a month."

Leah smirked a little. "Then I guess you better be quicker."

Natania growled to herself as she stalked away. She wasn't going to magically become faster. There was a maximum speed one could reach. She sighed. The pack hunt was that night and she had to go prepare.

It was her intent to evaluate her pack's abilities during the full moon hunt. While the two packs usually hunted as one, she was going to pull hers aside. She was a little nervous, the nights were chaotic, and she didn't want anyone to get hurt, but it had to be done.

The group training sessions had allowed her to evaluate their fighting abilities already, she would see their hunting tonight, and test their stamina and speed another day.

As the moon rose above the horizon, Natania led her pack through the woods. Her honey gold fur shone in the light of the full moon as they crept silently along the path the pack had taken for generations.

There had been a little bit of protest when Natania summoned her pack. There were usually many wolves who didn't take part in the hunt. Either because her father wouldn't allow them, or they simply didn't wish to. She didn't care. They would all come tonight.

Her group stayed behind the larger one that was her fathers. His pack was more experienced, and they needed to stock up on meat for winter. She didn't want to interfere with their hunt. She would let them break the herd and go after their targets, and then her pack would join.

It was obvious when her father gave the silent command to attack, a ripple went through the sea of fur and then they were moving. The herd scattered in a panic. Natania held back, pelt itchy with eagerness, until it was time.

"Now." She sent the command to the wolves behind her and dove out of the bushes. Fur brushed her sides as Valerie and Leah kept pace with her. They had two targets. Natania silently directed her pack to split. Most of them moved without hesitation and Natania slowed to keep an eye on the stragglers, trusting the others to handle their positions. Valerie and Hayley would take the first shot at one, while Leah and Violet took the other. Rory and Grace had only taken a few steps before they paused, pelts bristling.

"It's okay," Natania told them. "I won't let you get hurt." She held Grace's gaze and the spotted wolf nodded once. Grace picked up speed and rejoined her group but Rory didn't move. Natania flicked her gaze between the hunting wolves and Rory. He was young, only fourteen. Remembering the incident last time she had tried to force a nervous wolf to hunt she told him, "get back into the bushes, you can help take it home after."

The silver wolf dipped his head gratefully and retreated back into safety, his black tipped tail twitching. Natania rejoined the hunt, trying to keep her attention split between two groups. She let the pack bonds feed her information, let her know who was struggling and who was okay. Leah got the first bite, Violet joined her a second later on the first elk.

As it slowed the rest of their group descended upon it. Avery went for its throat, Malachi and Laura joined in. Satisfied that that one was down, Natania let them fade from her attention. Hayley was struggling to get her teeth into the second elk as it kicked out, narrowly avoiding a kick to the skull. Natania bolted in their direction, but it was unnecessary. Sage appeared out of nowhere, her sable fur spiked up, and latched onto the beast's front leg. That second delay allowed Hayley to get a grip and Valerie was right beside her moments later.

Keiran took the throat, wrenching it down. Natania was pleased. Both groups had been successful. She heard the weakening beats of the beasts' hearts slow to a stop and let out a howl of triumph. Her wolves joined in, and then her father's pack was singing along with them. They would have plenty of meat for the stock, not enough for all of winter, but a good amount, but first, they would feast.

Rory ran over and helped the wolves drag the two elks closer together. The pack sat around their kills, heads slightly bowed as they gazed at Natania, waiting for permission to eat. Natania nodded at them. "You all did well."

"Rory didn't even help." Rayla snapped her teeth at the smaller wolf and he skittered away, bowing down low.

"Neither did I." Natania bared her teeth at the tri coloured wolf. Rayla pinned her ears as Natania growled, "No one in my pack goes hungry. Rory will help next time, and today he and I will help bring the meat back."

Rumbles of approval and a few of discontent rose up from the wolves, but Natania ignored them and insisted they eat. Sage and Leah were given the first pick of the meat, and once they settled, the rest joined in. When he realized she wasn't eating, Branson tore a large chunk of meat from the haunches of his elk and approached Natania, dropping it at her feet. He bowed his head and Natania nuzzled him affectionately. "Eat," she said. "Don't worry about me." He pinned his ears.

Natania rolled her eyes and took a bite. She was hungry, but she mostly did it so he would finish his own share of the food. Branson pressed his nose against her flank then retook his position between Leah and Avery.